This Low Syn Braised Pork Cheeks with Apple is a great Slimming World friendly meal if you fancy something a little bit different.

For the full list of ingredients and comprehensive instructions, please see the recipe card at the end of this post. Before you scroll, there’s important stuff in the blurb 👍

Pig’s cheeks are cheap cuts of meat best cooked by braising or slow cooking. They’re not the prettiest but their texture and flavour are unrivalled and in our opinion, they are one of the most underrated and under-used cuts of a pig.

Sadly, they are not widely available, but your local butcher should be able to get some for you, or you can buy online from many butchers (we use Turner and George). Waitrose and Morrisons also have them in stock quite often.

As is the case with most of the cheaper cuts of meat the cheeks are not suited to fast cooking. They need a low, slow heat to allow all the fibres, made tough from actually doing something to break down, becoming gelatinous and soft.

If you can get your hands on some then we can’t recommend them highly enough!

As the name suggests, this Low Syn Braised Pork Cheeks with Apple contains apple. Cooked apple. Now we know that Slimming World

Now we all know that Slimming World says you are to Syn cooked fruit, due the filling power being lost once cooked. However, We don’t usually bother Synning it in this case, as it’s part of a healthy, well-balanced meal, which will be served with a good helping of speed.

As always, it’s your choice if you want to Syn it or not. If you do then you should add the Syns on accordingly.

We’ve started using this as a replacement, as it’s half the syn value of honey (only 0.5 syns a teaspoon). You can pick it up in some supermarkets or on Amazon.

This Slimming World friendly recipe can be done in the Instant Pot or in the slow cooker. It can even be done in a casserole dish in the oven.

Whenever we need to replace oil in cooking we use Frylight. Perfect for everyday frying and cooking, it delivers exactly one calorie per spray, which makes it Syn free! The Olive Oil flavour is ideal for this Low Syn Braised Pork Cheeks with Apple recipe.

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INSTRUCTIONS

Put the crushed garlic in a small bowl and add in the thyme, Sweet Freedom Natural Dark Sweetener, parsley and a tablespoon of water. Continue to crush some more until you achieve a paste

Pat the pork cheeks completely dry with paper towels and then cover the pork cheeks with the paste and season with salt and pepper. Let them marinate for at least an hour before cooking

After allowing them to absorb the flavours for about an hour, quickly dredge the pork cheeks in the flour. They shouldn't be coated in flour, just a hint should remain

Set the Instant Pot to sauté and spray in some Olive Oil Frylight (or heat the olive oil in a heavy pan on a medium high heat)

Sear the pork cheeks (about 30 seconds per each of its 3-4 sides) until all sides are browned

After each cheek is seared, remove from the pan and set to one side

Add a little more Frylight and sauté the onions, peppers, shallots and carrots until they are golden

Add the pork cheeks, red wine vinegar and bay leaf. Allow to reduce slightly over a medium heat (the Instant Pot should still be on sauté)

Add the beef stock, potatoes and apple.

Turn the Instant Pot to slow cook on medium setting for 3 - 4 hours (or turn down the heat under the pan and cook for 1.5 - 2 hours, or place in a covered casserole dish in medium oven for 1.5 - 2 hours)

When the pig cheeks are completely tender remove from the heat and serve

If you make this recipe, snap a pic and hashtag it #pinchofnom — We love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter!

RECIPE NOTES

We use a fan assisted oven for all of our recipes. Need help converting the temperature for your oven?

- Freeze it as soon as it is cold enough.- Use a container or bag that is suitable for freezing.- Defrost thoroughly before reheating (you can use the defrost setting on your microwave.)- Make sure it is piping hot all the way through before serving.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Syn values given are correct at time of writing but may not always be accurate.

This website is UNOFFICIAL and in NO WAY part of or representative of Slimming World.

We aren’t trained by Slimming World nor authorised to give Slimming World advice. Any advice given here should not replace the advice of your Slimming World consultant.

Ideally, you should check with Slimming world for the most up to date Syn values using official resources such as; the Syns calculator, Syns Online on LifelineOnline or by calling the Syns Hotline on (0906) 851 8518.

Although pinchofnom.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Under no circumstances will pinchofnom.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.

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